1932 Ford Roadster Pickup - Hot Rod Lincoln

We all have to start somewhere and for Tony Taormina that was when he spotted a 1932 Ford roadster pickup at a car show way back in 2003. One of the most rare body styles Ford offered that year (some production estimates put the number around 600 units), they are seldom found for sale, which is why Tony, who lives in Reno, Nevada, had such a tough time locating one to purchase. He was, however, able to buy the cowl to a Deuce roadster pickup in Oregon, but there was much more to find.

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What he especially liked about them was the cool beltline that ran just under the top edge of the cab—a unique and identifying mark. Looking into it a bit more, Tony happened upon the Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Benson Ford is part of The Henry Ford, which includes the Henry Ford Museum and other Ford-related attractions, and it also holds historical records (books, photos, catalogs) of the Ford Motor Company. He ordered a set of original drawings from the Center and, during a five-day seminar in 2004 that was offered by metalbender Fay Butler, he was able to create a set of doors for his project using a Yoder powerhammer.

Tony had great fun working with Butler, whom he believes is not only a true craftsman, but an incredibly patient teacher as well! So after Tony had his doors and his cowl, he still needed the cab, so he contacted Butler to see if he was interested in building one for him. Butler agreed, and soon Tony was on his way to having his dream car.

In 2008, Tony saw the Nov. ’08 issue of STREET RODDER that featured Old Speed Hot Rods’ roadster pickup on the cover. Slammed on the ground, it was everything Tony wanted for his ride, too, and he contacted Old Speed to build a chassis. Unfortunately, the company went out of business before finishing the car’s underpinnings, so Tony turned to Dave Davidson, a racing buddy who owns Vintage Hot Rod Design & Fabrication (VHR) in Chico, California. VHR is serious about their lakes racing heritage, and Dave is a member of both El Mirage’s 200 MPH Club and Bonneville’s 300 MPH Club.

3/18The smallest of the three Lincoln V-12s available in the ’30s and ’40s, Tony’s 292 was nonetheless bored 0.030 and assembled by John Beck at Vintage Hot Rod Design &amp; Fabrication using a custom aluminum intake manifold and air cleaner for the triple Stromberg 97 carb system. The motor is equipped with an Isky camshaft, Egge Machine pistons, and original Lincoln cylinder heads.

After meeting to discuss Tony’s concept for the pickup, the project started with a strong base: with a 0.120-wall 2x4 custom frame designed and built at VHR. Pegged on the ground, the frame accommodates a ’39 Lincoln rearend located with coilovers and long ladder bars as well as a drilled I-beam axle set up with a transverse spring and laid-down shocks (nearly parallel to the ground) that operate via a mini rocker arm assembly. Steering is accomplished with the aid of a Schroeder box whose output shaft pokes out of the side of the cowl. Lincoln brakes are used out back while ’41 Ford drums were used up front. To make it a roller, black 16-inch steelies were shod with Firestone rubber (6.00 and 7.50) and then topped with chrome Ford caps.

There are many unique aspects to this hot rod, but one of the best is the Lincoln V-12 engine located up front. First found in 1936 Lincoln Zephyrs, the ’36-39 V-12s were 267 inches making 110 hp, which gave the car a top speed of around 90 mph—not bad for a big car in 1936 (later years produced a 292 V-12 as well as a 306-incher).

4/18The custom overflow tank for the shortened Walker radiator is a nice item, and doesn’t take up much room.

Running the machine shop end of the business for VHR is John Beck, a longtime lakes competitor and record holder in his own right. Beck assembled Tony’s V-12 with oversize (0.030) Egge pistons, a 7.5:1 compression ratio, a custom-ground Isky camshaft, as well as Isky springs and Egge valves. A custom intake for the three Stromberg 97 carbs was made for the motor, and other one-off items were made (such as the fan shroud for the electric fan and the exhaust system) before the S-10 T5 transmission was bolted up.

Bodywork, handled chiefly by VHR’s Andrew Calkins, was next and before VHR’s David Sapp sprayed out the PPG semi-satin green acrylic urethane over the body and bed, the grille shell was shortened for proportion. To give the ride the look of nose art from a World War II bomber, Nick Knezic (Paradise, CA) was tapped to add the bomb-riding hottie to both sides of the cowl as well as the pinstripe on the hubcaps and around the car.

5/18Taillights from a ’39 Chevy are mounted off the bed’s rear corners, and the custom exhaust exits out the tailgate.

The handcrafted body and V-12 might be enough for some people, but the interior in Tony’s ride merits acclaim all by itself. Carrying on the World War II bomber theme, the roadster pickup boasts more than 4,000 aircraft rivets laid out across various parts and interior pieces.

Among the areas adorned with rivets is the pocket-and-heel step sectioned into the trans tunnel, the door panels and cab back, and around the gauge cluster on the dash. Individual bomber seats are sprayed with flattened green paint, and simple leather upholstery from Don Higgins Upholstery in Chico, California, is used on the seat’s base and backpiece. Under the dash is a vintage Sun tachometer and wiring by Jerry Bermudez, and the four-spoke steering wheel was wrapped at Paul’s Quality Upholstery in Chico.

6/18The front brakes are ’41 Ford with drilled backing plates. More lightening holes are also found throughout the car, including the steering arm.

After the pickup was completed, it made its debut at the 2012 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California, where it won first in the Altered Rod Truck, Pre-1935 class. But a show winner or not, the car turned out the way Tony wanted it to and, after being involved in the hot rod hobby for 50 years, that certainly made it a winner in his eyes.